CruzR887

The are two large consignment apps that showcase independent tours Viator and Get Your Guide. I’ve used both over the years with only a minor problem or two. There are others. Search for “shore excursions”. 

If you walk off with your luggage and have a private car waiting you’ll make it all things being equal. I would lineup at 6am ready to be first off the ship. 

Some of you are conflating issues. Being glued to a phone is separate from using a smartphone when traveling. Having a smartphone doesn't bind you to anything. I have almost no social media presence but I'd never travel without my phone. Here's why:

-In Europe you can pay for almost everything using your phone. (I haven't needed local currency in my five cruises since the restart)

-It can be used to call emergency services should the need arise. Otherwise you'll be begging someone with a phone to do it for you

-It can put you in direct contact with the ship if there is an issue.

-You can contact your insurance provider immediately so you know what protocol to follow to maintain coverage

-It has a map to get you where you want to go

-It shows Metro, bus stops and train stations and can map the public transportation course to get to your location.

-It allows you to buy tickets so you don't have to stand in line or figure out a ticket machine.

-You can communicate with your hotel or make a reservation if the need arises.

-It shows you nearby restaurants and their relative costs. Same with attractions.

-Check in for a flight or change a flight.

-Get updates on flight interruptions

-You can communicate with your driver if you've arranged a car service

-You can get up to date weather forecasts

-You always know the currency exchange rate.

-You can forego the camera and use your phone.

Your smartphone doesn't tether you it frees to travel safer and more securely and be in charge of events and not hemmed in by them.

If you plan to travel by train anywhere buy tickets on Trainline. Download the app. Then on the morning of travel buy tickets before you leave for the station. Never stand in line 

Looks like X is doing to dining what it did to balconies. 

Here's why HAL is there cruise line we check first when selecting a cruise:

-No events in centrum area, so the Royal Dutch cafe can be enjoyed without competing noise and you can hear and be heard at Guest Services.

-Covered main pool so the area is open even during cold and rainy weather and open to the sun when it's nice outside.

-Two room stewards and two daily room services.

-The Grand Dutch Cafe. Only The International Cafe on Princess is comparable.

-The Music Walk. Best live daily music at sea. (Bring back LCS!)

-The max number of passengers on board

-Crows Nest open to all passengers

-Dogs and Burgers made to order.

-Pretty good pizza

-No amusement park on the upper deck with expensive rides that are mostly closed.

-Great itineraries

If HAL had more enrichment lectures (guest speakers) and brought back classical music (no not Center Stage) it would be darn near perfect in our opinion.

Hi fastandhappy,

I've used the "patch" for years. It takes about 4 hours to kick in so plan the first application accordingly. I too get motion sick very easily but over the years I can now tolerate more motion that I once could. I now wait until the motion begins to make me feel ill and then apply the patch. I then lie  down for a few hours and I'm fine.

My side effect is dry mouth, not to difficult to deal with. I will say the first time I cruised I wore a patch for the entire cruise. It worked great but for several days after the cruise I awoke at night feeling very motion sick. The same thing happened to my daughter. In both cases it never happened again.

It shouldn’t boggle anyones mind that people have different tastes in cruising. We have eaten in a MDR once in the last 30 or so cruises. The Lido is among the best buffets in our opinion.There’s never a line, never a problem with service or second helpings, no up charges no dress code to be offended by or to offend. It you want to linger over dinner you can, if you want to be in and out you can and there are many more options than the MDR. 

Lavazza is a brand. Saying Princess is switching to Lavazza doesn’t tell you the complete story. There are many different Lavazza roasts; dark, medium, light and various beans and blends. It’s like saying I’m getting a Toyota. Until you know which specific model you only know part of the story.

If you have wanted to see the pyramids, Suez Canal and Middle East, the veranda price on the October 2024 Pursuit Ancient Trade Routes cruise have been cut by a third. Bookings are slow. Lots of cabins from which to choose. 

Just off the Rotterdam in January in an obstructed view. Generally a room between lifeboats will have a view of the structure that lowers the boats. These are higher than the lifeboats. Looking across a lifeboat is a somewhat less obstructed view. We don’t mind the obstructed view cabins at all and opt for them if we can’t get an aft view.

We were on Shiloutte last week. The OVC was pathetic. The first night I said as much to the man in charge. He didn’t say a word to me. Just stared at me. A man passing and made the same complaint. No comment at all except to ask us our room number and said nothing else until we walked way. 
 

We are now on HAL’s Rotterdam. Lido (the buffet) is not only fully open but last night prime rib was on offer and the night before they had filet mignon. This cruise is so far superior to Shiloutte. The music walk is fantastic. The Step One Dancers shows are innovative and excellent. We’re cruised with Celebrity about 10 times but drastically changing their product and our 4 HAL cruises have made HAL our new go to line. 

We bought 100 shares @ $6.90 on Monday. Emailed proof of purchase on Tuesday and today our $250 OBC is recorded on our onboard acct. We received an automatic email response immediately after submitting the benefit, but heard nothing about it being approved. 

We are also b2b in Oct. We’re taking the train to Rome. One or two sights and lunch and back to the ship. Be in-line early to get off the ship. A shuttle will drop you outside the port. 15 to 20 minute walk to train station. Just follow others. It pretty much a straight shot with one dog leg. Again lots of people will be doing this trip. Pick your sights, study train and metro stops and you’ll be fine. 

Shipwalker, those MSNBC promos cover paid advertising. They do get old rather quickly.

I see they are now available. Don’t know what happened but glad all seems normal  

Island Princess cruises have disappeared from my TA’s website and are listed “unavailable” at Princess.com. Anyone hear anything?

Cruise ends in Civi at 5am on a Monday. There is a direct flight home from FCO at 9:55AM. Can I make it? 

Once a GTY cabin is assigned will Celebrity allow you to move to another cabin in the same class? Got a C3 GTY assigned but there is another available C3 I’d prefer. My TA says no changing a GTY assigned cabin. I know I’ve done it before. Perhaps not on Celebrity. 

I book with a TA, you book with HAL. When I book I call and make a booking. You do the same. If I want to make a change I call and make the change, so do you. I book a cabin a I want and so an upgrade is often not to my liking but even so getting an email a bit sooner then me does not offset the best advantage of a TA...I pay less and get onboard credit above what the HAL is offering. So for me a TA is money in the bank on every cruise.

It's not just Celebrity. Every time you are asked to rate personal or services, from Uber drivers to Doctors, anything other than the highest number will be seen by management as a negative. It can affect pay raises, promotions and even employment. Any survey every time. A room steward who does his/her job will be hurt by a rating lower than "exceeded expectations". Unless someone is truly sub par give them the highest rating or don't respond to the survey. That's why they are asking for the highest mark because anything less will hurt them in one way or another.

Jade March 18th cruise cancelled March 13. Called and asked for a cash refund. 7-10 biz days they say. Day 10 I called and was told 14-biz days. Day 14 I called and they say up to 60 days. Today full amount refund shows up on my credit card but it was dated March 31. It took Chase until today to credit the account. 

So refunds do happen. Hang in there.

When our Spirit cruise was cancelled we got our card refunded in 8 business days.

Thanks, I  couldn't remember going thru immigration at the port but I wanted to make sure. 

Say Hi to Rocky & Bullwinkle for me!

If a cruise ends in Civitavecchia do you go thru immigration control at the port as you exit the ship, or at FCO?